Dr. Lauren Elson
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Wellesley, MA
18 years experience female
Locations
Spaulding Rehabilitation
Wellesley, MA
Office
Wellesley, MA
About
SpecialtiesDoctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.
Doctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Sports Medicine
Languages spoken
English
Doctor Q&A
241 Answers
49 Agrees
The number of answers this doctor has agreed with.
A 39-year-old member asked:
Dr. Lauren Elsonanswered
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 18 years experience
Physiatrist: Physiatrists, or physical medicine and rehabilitation doctors, are non-operative specialists of the musculoskeletal system. They can evaluate your mo... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:
Dr. Lauren Elsonanswered
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 18 years experience
Structure v function: I agree that a thorough work up is needed. Even if you do have arthritis, it may or may not be the source of your pain. Even if it is, there are many ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 35-year-old member asked:
Dr. Lauren Elsonanswered
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 18 years experience
Diagnosis first: It is unusual to have back pain that stems only from pulled ligaments, so your first step should be to see a spine specialist (often, a physiatrist) t... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 42-year-old member asked:
Dr. Lauren Elsonanswered
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 18 years experience
For many years: Acupuncture is commonly uses to treat many types of pain. You should see a physician to rule out any dangerous process. After that, acupuncture may be... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 42-year-old member asked:
Dr. Lauren Elsonanswered
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 18 years experience
1possibility: It is very common to have a bulging disc. The nerve symptoms are usually related to inflammation. The first step in treatment is usually anti- inflamm... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:
Dr. Lauren Elsonanswered
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 18 years experience
See physician : It is unusual to develop whole body pain all at once. You should check with your primary care doctor to make sure that there is nothing systemic going... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 48-year-old member asked:
Dr. Lauren Elsonanswered
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 18 years experience
Sports med doc: See a physiatrist or sports med doc to determine the cause of the numbness. Once diagnosed, they will give you suggestions to decrease the symptoms a... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 29-year-old male asked:
Dr. Lauren Elsonanswered
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 18 years experience
Get evaluation: There are many causes of foot drop- it is important that you are evaluated as soon as possible to determine the cause. Permanent damage to a nerve can... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 36-year-old male asked:
Dr. Lauren Elsonanswered
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 18 years experience
Substitute: Substitute water for sugary drinks. Soak cucumber or citrus fruits in it for flavor.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 30-year-old member asked:
Dr. Lauren Elsonanswered
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 18 years experience
Rehabilitation team: Depending on the motor impairment, there are many resources available. I see you live in salt lake city- where there is a very good department of phy... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 19-year-old female asked:
Dr. Lauren Elsonanswered
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 18 years experience
Patellofemoral pain: Your symptoms sound like patellofemoral pain- it is due to a muscle imbalance with relative weakness of the gluteus medius muscle. This imbalance is ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 44-year-old member asked:
Dr. Lauren Elsonanswered
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 18 years experience
Patellar tracking: In someone your age, pain with knee flexion is often caused by muscle imbalance, causing the patella to be slightly off it's normal course. This tend... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 35-year-old member asked:
Dr. Lauren Elsonanswered
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 18 years experience
Referred pain: When a nerve is irritated, it is possible to have discomfort at any point along the nerve and within the muscles that it controls. All nerves have ro... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 39-year-old member asked:
Dr. Lauren Elsonanswered
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 18 years experience
No!Eligible for life: Surgeries are used to restore function so that a person can get back to a full, productive life.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 39-year-old male asked:
Dr. Lauren Elsonanswered
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 18 years experience
Unusual presentation: That is an unusual presentation for cancer, but you should have a work up for other focal or systemic causes of numbness/tingling. Cause can range fr... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 27-year-old female asked:
Dr. Lauren Elsonanswered
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 18 years experience
Side effects?: Check with the doctor that recommended them for your dysautonomia. If you have signs of poor circulation (cold, bluish toes) or nerve compression (num... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:
Dr. Lauren Elsonanswered
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 18 years experience
No, unless...: Assuming that the head is not moving during the massage, and that it is not being struck, the brain will not be damaged. Infants and those missing a ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 19-year-old female asked:
Dr. Lauren Elsonanswered
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 18 years experience
See physiatrist: Depending on when and exactly where you get your symptoms, there are multiple potential causes. Most get better with a good core strengthening progra... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 43-year-old member asked:
Dr. Lauren Elsonanswered
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 18 years experience
It is possible: Muscle tension can certainly cause tingling in the face by causing referred symptoms and affecting the superficial nerves. If the tingling is worse w... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 37-year-old female asked:
Dr. Lauren Elsonanswered
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 18 years experience
See physiatrist: Knots in the trapezius can cause those symptoms- as can other knots in the scapula thoracic region (in particular, infraspinatis, teres, levator scapu... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 34-year-old member asked:
Dr. Lauren Elsonanswered
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 18 years experience
Both possible: It depends on the mechanism of injury. If it affecting your movement, see your doctor for diagnosis and management.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 35-year-old member asked:
Dr. Lauren Elsonanswered
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 18 years experience
Not typically: Sacroiliac dysfunction is caused by too little or too much movement at the sacroiliac joint. It is at the meeting of the iliac bone (you can feel it w... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 46-year-old member asked:
Dr. Lauren Elsonanswered
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 18 years experience
Nerve irritation: See your doctor to determine why you are getting these symptoms- it could be primarily from the nerves, or secondarily (it the blood flow is not nouri... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 39-year-old female asked:
Dr. Lauren Elsonanswered
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 18 years experience
Physiatry eval: A physiatrist can perform a comprehensive eval to determine the cause of your symptoms and develop a treatment strategy. The diagnosis depends on wher... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 27-year-old female asked:
Dr. Lauren Elsonanswered
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 18 years experience
Possibly: Acupuncture can help pain from fibromyalgia by resetting the nervous system. It doesn't replace exercise or sleep, but it is a great supplement for ma... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old male asked:
Dr. Lauren Elsonanswered
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 18 years experience
See a physiatrist : A physiatrist- or doctor of physical medicine and rehabilitation- can perform a thorough nerve and muscle exam to determine the cause of your numbness... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 44-year-old female asked:
Dr. Lauren Elsonanswered
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 18 years experience
Inflammation: Depending on where you are getting the pain, this could be related to the psoas muscle getting inflamed in its course through the pelvis or from a ner... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 39-year-old member asked:
Dr. Lauren Elsonanswered
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 18 years experience
Neuromuscular: Neuromuscular therapy can be extremely helpful for muscle trigger points caused by stress. Heat/ice for 15 minutes can be a good temporary quick fix.... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 19-year-old male asked:
Dr. Lauren Elsonanswered
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 18 years experience
Short term: To radial is an anti-inflammatory that can effectively reduce back pain. See a physiatrist (spine specialist) to diagnose your specific problem to des... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:
Dr. Lauren Elsonanswered
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 18 years experience
Possible/unlikely: If there is a significant amount of swelling around the nerves that pass through to the arm and hand, a rotator cuff tear could cause those symptoms. ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:
Dr. Lauren Elsonanswered
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 18 years experience
Muscle tightness: Assymmetrically tight muscles in the neck or shoulder area can cause the neck to crack. As long as there is no pain, numbness or tingling, this is not... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 37-year-old member asked:
Dr. Lauren Elsonanswered
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 18 years experience
Depends...: Depending on which part of your arm hurts, what makes it better and worse, and other aspects of your exam, there are multiple possible causes ranging ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 28-year-old female asked:
Dr. Lauren Elsonanswered
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 18 years experience
See sports med doc: Have the diagnosis confirmed by a sports medicine physician. There is no harm in starting resting night splints while waiting for an appointment. If... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 36-year-old female asked:
Dr. Lauren Elsonanswered
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 18 years experience
Yes: If the mechanical factors that led to the original problem (muscle imbalance, core weakness) are not fixed, the problem is likely to come back. A spo... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 53-year-old male asked:
I have knee arthritus, my left foot occasionally feels like a cool breeze is blowing by it . normal?
Dr. Lauren Elsonanswered
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 18 years experience
Nerve irritation: The feeling in your left foot that you are experiencing is most likely an irritated nerve ( could be anywhere from the back to the foot itself) and li... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 37-year-old member asked:
Dr. Lauren Elsonanswered
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 18 years experience
Yes: You can take Motrin with the muscle relaxer prescribed by your doctor. They have different mechanism of action and will not interact. Take the Motrin ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 45-year-old member asked:
Dr. Lauren Elsonanswered
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 18 years experience
No: Arthritis is caused by normal wear and tear on the joints- this has nothing to do with going to bed with wet hair.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 30-year-old member asked:
Dr. Lauren Elsonanswered
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 18 years experience
Yes: Advil (ibuprofen) and muscle relaxers have different mechanisms of action and may be taken together. Ask your doctor for the recommended dose of each... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old female asked:
Dr. Lauren Elsonanswered
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 18 years experience
See physiatrist: A physiatrist can help identify the cause of your symptoms and recommend a treatment plan. If it is determined to be related to the spine, a brief co... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 33-year-old member asked:
Dr. Lauren Elsonanswered
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 18 years experience
Nothing: Assuming that you are young and healthy, and that you are not taking other drugs/medications, there is no harm in taking a high dose anti-inflammatory... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 49-year-old member asked:
Dr. Lauren Elsonanswered
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 18 years experience
No: Delayed periods, in and of themselves, should not cause pain. You should see your gyn to see why the periods are delayed- and to see if this same proc... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 35-year-old member asked:
Dr. Lauren Elsonanswered
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 18 years experience
Hard to tell: It is easy for muscles to become sore- and increase in the amount of physical activity someone does and cause a temporary muscle soreness. Bones beco... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 39-year-old member asked:
Dr. Lauren Elsonanswered
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 18 years experience
Different classes: There is no way to compare the strength of these medications- tramadol is a pain killer. It works very differently that flexeril, (cyclobenzaprine hc... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 30-year-old member asked:
Dr. Lauren Elsonanswered
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 18 years experience
Depends: It depends on which part of your hand hurts- if it is over the thumb, it is very likely tendonitis. See a sports med doc for diagnosis and treatment ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 49-year-old member asked:
Dr. Lauren Elsonanswered
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 18 years experience
Sometimes: Adolescents with scoliosis need to be followed by their primary physician to monitor the degree of scoliosis and make sure that it does not progress t... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 29-year-old member asked:
Dr. Lauren Elsonanswered
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 18 years experience
Natural health: If you have a healthy diet that replaces the protein, carbs, fats used during your workouts and normal activity, you do not need to take supplements. ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 54-year-old member asked:
Dr. Lauren Elsonanswered
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 18 years experience
Ice, rest, rehab: If this is truly acute tendonitis, ice, anti-inflammatories, and unloading with a patellar strap. Next, any faulty mechanics that may have led to the ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 18-year-old member asked:
Dr. Lauren Elsonanswered
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 18 years experience
No split sitting!: Sitting in a split will not improve your flexibility any more than doing it for 20 or 30 seconds at a time. Dynamic warm up (i.e. Grand plié) will hel... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A member asked:
Dr. Lauren Elsonanswered
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 18 years experience
Stretch and exercise: Since this is a recurrent problem, evaluation by a physiatrist can help determine the cause and guide you to the best specific treatments (depending i... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 34-year-old member asked:
Dr. Lauren Elsonanswered
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 18 years experience
Postural exercises: There is no one exercise that is best for the neck. For most people, there are a few that are helpful depending on if the exercises are being done for... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
TestimonialsRecommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.
Recommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.
4
Recommendations
550
Thank you notes
Sep 2, 2013
Enjoy reading Dr. Elson's advice. Keep up the good work!
Mar 26, 2013
Excellent doc, you'll appreciate her expertise!
HealthTap member
Mar 30, 2015
Dr. Elson is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
This made me feel good. Thanks! Really it made me feal good that it isn't as bad as I thought. More exercising will be required. Thanks Dr. Lauren
HealthTap member
i was able to do 12. near muscle failure i stopped as pain increased i will ice, thank you and i will have it look at scheduled August.
HealthTap member
Thank you, your answer was very helpful! My son has the stroke on his left hand someone advised me to do messag
Education & Training
Medical/Graduate school
Tufts University School of Medicine, MA
Graduated 2005MD
Awards
Top Physical Medicine and Rehab Specialist, Second Place, Massachusetts - Winter
2013
Top Physical Medicine and Rehab Specialist, First Place, Massachusetts - Summer
2013
Top Physical Medicine and Rehab Specialist, First Place, Massachusetts - Spring
2015
Affiliations
International association of dance medicine and science
Performing Arts Medicine Association
American Medical Society of Sports Medicine
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